Machine for making concrete blocks.



W. GRAF & C. F. NICKEL. MACHINE FCR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

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THE NORRIS PETERS Co.. PHvTo-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. Cl

w. GRAF & c.; F. NICKEL. MACHINE F 0R MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS. APPLICATIONFILED 1UNE13. 1914.

1,142,696. Patented June 8, 1915.

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THE MORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTD-LITHQ. WASHING roN, D, C.

W. GRAF & C. F. NICKEL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLlcAnoN FILED JUNE I3, |914.

1 ,142,696. Patented June 8, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NURRIS PETERS C0.. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C

W. GRAF & C. F. NICKEL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I3. 1914.

1,142,696. Patented June 8, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

d enDr-S: ma ww THE NURRIS PETERS PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. I,

UNITED sT'rEs rATENToEEIoE.;

WILLIAM GrRAI1 AND CHARLES E. NICKEL, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June s, v19115.

Application filed June 13, 1914. Serial No. 844,928.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM GRAF and CHARLES F. NICKEL, citizens of the United States, and residents of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines l for Making Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to machines for molding blocks of concrete and similar material, and more particularly machines for molding hollow blocks; and it comprises such a machine having a movable mold, a base for` supporting the mold and a plunger for compressing the material therein, a track for the movable mold arranged to be lowered upon lowering of the plunger and to be raised when the plungerV is raised so that the mold will be supported by the base when the plunger compresses the material in the mold, but will be freely `movable on said track into and out 0f position when the plunger is raised; it also comprises a mold for molding hollow blocks having a movable core or form laterally movable into and out of the mold, and vertically movable when in the moldrso that the core or form can be raised before being introduced into the mold and subsequently lowered it further comprises certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts; all as Y more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed. 'A I In the molding of hollow blocks of concrete or similar material it is desirable that the material being molded and pressed be compacted as well below as above, the hollow coresor forms, but it is also necessary that these cores be properly positioned. It is furthermore desirable that the Aconcrete or other material be firmly compacted, and that the mold, even where movable, be properly supported during the compression.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a movable mold which can be lowered onto a suitable support when the material therein is being compacted, but which can be raised and readily removed before or after the compression.

It is a further object of the invention to' provide hollow cores or forms laterally movy able into and out ofthe mold which can be raised before insertion or `before compression, and which will be lowered before or during the compression.

Further objects of the invention will more clearly vappear -in the following more detailed description( v In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 shows the apparatus as a whole in elevation with the movable mold in place;

Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus at right angles to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the movable mold in elevation; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5

is atop plan of the mold, certain operating parts being broken off; Fig. 6 is an elevation of the end of the mold; Fig. Tis a de.

tail of the core releasing device, and Fig. 8 shows a block such as is produced in the apparatus of the present invention. j

The press shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is made up of the base portion 1, the upright 2, and the top plate or frame 3 carrying the tuf bular extension or sleeve 4 and surrounding the vertically movable screw 5 carrying the plunger to be presently described. vSupported by the top frame 3 by the ball or rollerbearings 6 is the operating gear 7, screw threaded to engage the screw 5, the gear 7 intermeshing with the pinion 8 which is driven through the bevel gears 9 and 10 and the spur gear and pinion l1 and 11a,

the spur gear 11 and bevel gear 10 being on the same shaft, and the pinion 11a being driven byA suitable operating mechanism (not shown) by means of which the plunger of the apparatus can be lowered and raised. It will be understood that the pinion 11a can be operated from any suitable source of power such as a motor; or pulley, provided with suitable reversing mechanism or clutch, but the specific structure of such operating mechanism forms no part of the present invention, and need not he further described. On the lower end of the screw 5 is thehead 12 carryingthe plate 13 to which the laterally adjustableguides 14 are:

attached, these guides sliding onv the uprights 2, as will be readily understood.' The lso 7 press plate or plunger 15' isv carried and sup- 5 ported by the plate 13. This plunger may be made in different sizes and shape, and

may be readily removed from the plate and replaced when a `mold of a different shape or size is used. Projecting from the guides 14 are pins or bearings 16 which slide in slots in the uprights 17 and support these uprights when the plunger is in its raised position. Supported by the slotted bars 17 are the crossbars 18 which carry the track 19 on which the movable truck or mold 20 is supported, such bars forming a supporting frame-work for the mold. lt will be understood that these tracks 19 when in their raised position aline with other tracks (not shown) by means of which the molds can be removed to a suitable distance from the press for filling and discharging. An operating rod 21 is also carried by the head plate 13, and a coperating lever 22 is carried by the mold, the function and operation of these parts to be more fully hereinafter described. Supported by the base 1 is a platform or base projection 23 arranged below the mold when in position in the press.

The mold, designated as a whole by the reference character 2O in Figs. 1 and 2 is made up of the bottom or base 25, the rear wall 26 permanently attached to the base, the side walls 27 pivotally supported from the rear wall by the pivot supports 30, and

the front wall 28 pivotally supported at its bottom by the pivot 29. Side plates 31 are carried by the side walls 27 and these side plates are provided with openings 32 for receiving the heads 33 of the locking shaft or rod suitably supported by bearings 35 on the front end of the mold, this shaft or rod being provided with a suitable operating handle 34. rlhe front wall is suitably stiffened by straps 36, andthe rear-wall by straps 37 which extend under the bottom of the mold. The bottom of the mold is moreover reinforced so that it present-s a flat and level surface to the base 23 when low ered into engagement therewith. The braces or brackets 40 stil-lien and support the rear wall 26 of the mold and enable it to carry the operating mechanism by means of which the cores are operated. Extending rearwardly from the rear wall are the rods or tubes 41 supported at their outer ends from the top of the mold by braces 42 held in place by the nuts 43. Slidable on these rods are the tubular extensions 44 to which the movable cores are attached and by which their operating mechanism is supported. A bracket 45 is also supported near the ends of the rods 41 and carries a suitable pinion 46 provided with an operating handle 46:L and meshing with the rack 47 attached to and movable with the sliding extensions 44. Also carried by the frame-work 44 is the plate 48 slotted at 51 as shown, and slidably mounted on the plate 48 is the inner plate 49 carrying the cores 50. rlhis plate 49 and the cores 50 are raised and lowered by the lever 53 supported by the bracket 52 from the plate 48, suitable bolts being provided for sliding in the slots 51 and holding the plates 48 and 49 in position. rllhe rear wal 54 is provided with suitable openings for the cores 50, these openings being' somewhat larger than the cores and permitting vertical movement of the cores when in position in the mold. An inner plate 5G is also provided having openings corresponding in size to the size of the cores when in place in the mold, this plate 5G being slidable vertically Y with the cores when raised and lowered, and being held in place by bolts sliding in slots 55 in the rear wall of the mold.

The lever 22 is supported by a suitable bracket 57 and carries at its lower end a pin 58 normally pressed against the rear wall of the mold by the spring 59, the spring and pin sliding in a suitable tubular portion of the bracket 57, a slot 60 permitting the operation of the pin by the lever. As shown in Fig. 7 the pin 58 extends through a corresponding hole in the inner plate 49 and holds this plate in raised position until released by the operation of the rod 21 engaging with the end 22 of the lever. |The mold, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided with a front lining plate 61, and with corner plates 62 at the bottom corners. The sides of the mold are also provided with projections 63 for giving to the molded block a recess corresponding to one-half the size of the cores, this recess being indicated at 68 in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8 the molded block as a Whole is indicated at 65 and the openings or holes formed by the hollow cores or solid cores 50 at 66. The lower corners 67 may be cut away or made of various contours by the corner plates 62. lt will be understood that when a series of the molded blocks are used the recesses 68 of adjacent blocks will form openings similar in size and appearance to the openings G6.

ln the operation of the molding apparatus of the present invention the car or movn able mold can be taken to any convenient place for charging, and usually when charging the lower part of the mold the hollow cores 55 will be removed. 1When the material has been placed in the mold to the desired depth, the cores 50 can be raised by means of the handle 53 and inserted laterally into the mold. rllhe mold can then be filled with the material to the desired height, the cores remaining in their raised position. When the mold is now placed in position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the plunger 15 is lowered by its operating mechanism, the operating rod 21 engages the lever 22 and releases the pin 58 from the inner plate 49 by means of which the cores are supported. The cores are thus permitted to fall into their lowered position, or if the material below them will not permit this, they will be forced down by the plunger when the material itself is being compacted. fIn Fig. 4 the cores are shown in their lowered position with their raised position indicated in dotted lines. In Fig. 3 the cores and their operating mechanism, when withdrawnvfrom the mold, are indicatedin dotted lines. When the plunger is lowered, after the mold is :in place, the track 19 is also lowered carrying the mold with it until .it rests on the base 23. The tracks can continue to fall until they rest on the base of the apparatus after which the pins 16 continue to slide in the slots of the uprights 17 whilethe plunger is being further lowered. Thus the mold -is supported entirely by the base 23 when the material within it is undergoing compression, the compression being thus much more effectively sustained, and the frame-work ofthe truck and its supporting track being relieved from the compression. l

It will thus be seen that the apparatus of the present invention enables convenient and rapid handling of the material being charged into the mold, and easy movement of the mold into position. It will also be seen that when the mold is in position and the plunger is lowered, the mold also will be lowered until it is supported directly by the base23 after which the plunger will continue to be lowered, the arm 21will engage with the lever 22 and automatically release the cores 50 and their supporting plate, and the material will then be compressed to the desired extent. VSince the lining plate 56 has openings of the vsame size as the cores 50, the cores will completely lill these openings and there will beno opening for the escape of the concrete lor ,other material, even though the holes and slots inthe plate 54 are of suiicient sizeto permit movement of the cores and the guiding bolts. When the block has been molded, the plunger is raised until finally the tracks 19 again support the mold truck and'raise it off the base 23, after which the mold can be taken to any suitable place for removal of the molded block. The cores 50 are slightly tapered to facilitate their removal, and after these cores have been removed the side and front walls can be released by means of the handle 34 leaving the molded block ready to be removed to any suitable place for storage. The cores can then be reinserted in their raised position after the mold has again is automatic and requires no further attention from the operator, other than that necessary in controlling the operation of the pulley or motor by means of which the plunger is lowered and subsequently raised.

While we have described and illustrated one embodiment of ourv invention, by means of which the invention is illustrated, yet it will be understood that the invention is illustrated by but not limited to this embodiment so shown and described.

1t will be'understood that variations and modifications can be made therein without ered and for raising the same from saidbase when the plunger is raised. 1

2. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a movable mold, a track for supporting said mold, a base for supporting the mold whenrin lowered position, a plunger 4for compressing the material in such mold, and means connecting said plunger and track arranged to lower the track and mold on to said base when 'the plunger isl lowered and to raise the track and mold when the plunger is raised.

3. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, cores in said mold verticallymovable therein, means for locking said cores in raised position, a plunger for compressing the material in said mold, and means operated by said plunger for releasing said locking means when the plunger is lowered. v

4. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a movable mold, a base for supporting the mold when in lowered position, a plunger for compressing the material in said mold, cores in said mold vertically movable therein, means for holding said cores in raised position, and means for lowering said mold .on to said supporting base and for automatically releasing said cou-s from their raised position when the plunger is lowered and for raising said mold from said base vwhen the plungerl is raised.

5. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a movable mold, a track for supporting said mold, a base for supporting the mold when in lowered position, a plunger for compressing the material in said mold, cores in said mold vertically movable therein, means for holding said cores in raised position, and means carried by Vsaid plunger for lowering said track and mold on to said base and for releasing said cores from their raised positions when the plunger is lowered and for raising said track and mold from said base when the plunger is raised.

6. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, tapered cores laterali@T movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, a lining plate surrounding said cores and vertically movable therewith, means for inserting and withdrawing said tapered cores laterally through said lining plate, and means for raising and lowering said cores and lining plate in said mold.

7. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, tapered cores laterally movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, said mold having a rear wall provided with openings for said cores permitting vertical movement thereof, a lining plate slidably mounted on said rear wall and provided with openings corresponding in size with the size of the cores, means for inserting and withdrawing said tapered cores laterally through said lining plate, and means for raising and lowering` said cores and lining plate in said mold.

8. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a movable mold, a base for sup-V porting the mold when in lowered position, a plunger for compressing the material in said mold, cores in said mold vertically movable therein and laterally movable into and out of said mold, said mold having a rear wall provided with openings for said cores permitting vertical movement thereof, a lin ing plate slidably mounted on said rear wall and provided with openings corresponding in size with the size of the cores, means for vholding said cores and said lining plate in raised position, and means for lowering said mold on to said supporting'base and for releasing said cores and lining plate from their raised positionY when the plunger is lowered and for raising said mold from said Ybase when the plunger is raised.

9. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, cores laterally movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, means carried by said mold for moving said cores laterally into and out of said mold comprising a laterally slidable bracket support, a vertically slidable plate carried thereby for supporting said cores, and means carried by said bracket support for raising and lowering said cores and said slidable plate.

10. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mo-ld, cores laterally movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, means carried by said mold for moving said cores laterally into and out of said mold comprising a laterally slidable supporting member provided with a vertical supporting plate, a vertically movable plate slidable on said supporting plate and carrying said cores, means carried by said supporting member for raising and lowering said cores and sliding plate, said mold having a rear wall provided with openings for said cores permitting vertical movement thereof, and a lining plate slidably mounted on said rear wall and provided with openings corresponding in size with the size of the cores.

In testimony whereof we aliX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GRAF. CHARLES F. NICKEL. Witnesses:

ANDREW LEUTBEGKER, J. HARVEY KIMMEL Genies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

:D1/S CLAIMER.

1,142,696.- William Graf and Charles F. Nickel, Baltimore, Md. MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS. Patent dated June S, 1915. Disclaimer filed January 22, 1917, by the patentees.

Enter this disclaimer- To that part of the claims in said specification which is in the following words, to wit:

8. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, cores in said mold vertically movable therein, means for locking said cores in raised position, a plunger for compressing the material in said mold, and means operated by said plunger for releasing said locking means when the plunger is lowered.

6. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, tapered cores laterally movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, a lining plate surrounding said cores and vertically movable therewith, means for inserting and withdrawin said tapered cores laterally through said lining plate, and means for raising andowering said cores and lining plate in said mold.

7. An a paratus of the nature described comprising a mold, tapered cores laterally movab e into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, said mold having a rear wall provided with openings for said cores permitting vertical movement thereof, a lining plate slidably mounted on said rear wall and provided with openings corresponding in size'with the sizeof the cores, means for inserting and withdrawing said tapered cores laterally through said lining plate, and means for raising and lowering said cores and lining plate in said mold.

9. An apparatus of the nature des ribed comprising a mold, cores laterally movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, means carried by said mold for moving said cores laterally into and out of said mold comprising a laterally slidable bracket support, a vertically slidable plate carried thereby for supporting said cores, and means carried by said bracket support for raising and lowering said cores and said slidable plate.

10. An apparatus of the nature described comprising a mold, cores laterally movable into and out of said mold and vertically movable therein, means carried by said mold for moving said cores laterally into and out of said mold comprising a laterally slidable supporting member provided with a vertical supporting late, a vertically movable p ate slidable on said supporting plate and carrying sai cores, means carried by said supporting member for raising and lowering said cores and sliding plate, said mold having a rear wall provided with openings for said cores permitting vertical movement thereof, and a lining plate slidably mounted on said rear wall and provided with openings corresponding in size with the size of .the cores.

[Oficial Gazette January 30, 1.917.] 

